Cotton-picker.



W. E. 'PEHL.

COTTON PIICKER. APPLICATION map JUNE us. 1915;

' Paten ted N0v .,16, 1915 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. E. PEHL.

' COTTON PICK ER.

APPLlCATION ElLED JUNE 16. 1915.

1,160,446., Patented. Nov. 16,1915.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. E, PEHL. canon mcKER.

APPLlCATlON FEED JUNE 16. T915.

Patented Nov. 16, lQib.

mww.

4 SHEET$SHEET 4.

"WALTER EDWARD rent, or AUSTIN, Texas.

borrow-mer er;

LIWUAAG.

Application filed June 16, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALTERI E. PEI-IL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Pickers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw- This invention relates to certain improvements in cotton pickers; and it is an object of my invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the cotton is collected independently of the bolls.

It isalso an object of my invention to provide a device of this-general character having novel and improved means whereby a I twisting action is given to the cotton through the medium of a rotatable member and whereby said cotton, after being extracted from within the boll, is caused to be collected in substantially an automatic manner.

Furthermore, it is an object'of my invention to provide a device of this general character adapted to coact with the opposite sides of a .row of plants and wherein the same is capable of convenient lateral adjustment in order to compensate the same for use in connection with rows of varying widths.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved cotton picker whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefullydefined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure Lisa view in top plan, with the seat structure omitted, of a cotton picker constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through my device as herein embodied, with the seat structure shown in elevation; Fig. 3 isa view pa'rtlyin rear elevation and partly in section, of my improved harvester as herein embodied; Fig. 4: is a view, partly in elevation and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 116, 1915.

Serial No. 34,493.

partly in section, of the forward arch of my device as herein embodied and illustrating certain details of the steering mechanism herein included; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view-taken through one of the collecting cylinders forming part of my invention as herein set forth, certain of the parts coacting there.

with being shown in elevation; Fig, 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8. is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a clutch mechanism embodied herein. it As disclosed in the accompanying drawmgs, 1 and 2 denote, respectively, the front and rear arches of my improved machine as herein set forth, the rear arch 2 being provided with the outwardly disposed trunnions 3 on which are mounted the supporting wheels 4. Each of the arches l and 2 comprises duplicate sections whereby the same may be readily and conveniently adjusted to compensate the device for use in connection with rows of varying widths and, as herein set forth, the adjacent extremities of the front or forward arch 1 are telescopically engaged within the sleeve 5 and maintained in their predetermined adjustments relatively to the sleeve through the medium of the binding members 6, herein set forth as conventional set screws, threaded through the sleeve and engaging the extremities of the sections.

The rear arch 2 has its adjacentextremities telescopically engaged with the sleeve 7, said sleeve being secured to one of the sections through the medium of the conventional clamping member 8 while the inner extremity of the adjacent section of the arch has adjustably secured thereto through the medium of the conventional clamping.

member 9, a sleeve 10 positioned within the recessed portion 11 of the sleeve 7 whereby it will be observed that the sections of the rear arch 2 are capable of limited relative movement. This arrangement is believed to be clearly disclosed'in Figs. 1 and 3 of the which are mounted the supporting and steering wheels 15. The rods 12 extend above the arch and to the upper extremities thereof are suitably afiixed the parallel rock arms 16 tied or connected by thelink 17 whereby said rods 12 may be causedto rotate in unison and in the same general direction. One of the arms 16 is provided with. a lateral extension 18 having pivotally secured thereto the rearwardly disposed bar 19 suitably engaged with the lever 20 carried by one of the .frames F positioned in close proximity to the seat structure S, herein set forth as being operatively engaged with the sleeve 7, hereinbefore referred to. As is believed to be self-evident, upon requisite rocking movement being imparted to the lever 20, the rods 12 may be rotated in such a manner as to I control the direction of travel of the device.

It may also be well to state that the lever 20 is provided with a conventional latch mechanism 21 coacting with a rack 22 also carried by the frame F. As herein embodied, the frame F is interposed between the corresponding vertical members of the arches 1 and 2 and is substantially rectangular in form with its transverse diameter vertically disposed and the forward end of the frame F is provided with an'extension 23 pivotally engaged, as at 24, about a vertical axis with the sleeve or collar 25 loosely mounted upon avertical member of the forward arch 1 and maintained in a predetermined position upon said vertical member through the medium of the collars 26- ina manner'which is believed to be fully disclosed in the accompanying drawings. The opposite or rear end of the frame F is provided with an extension 27 loosely engaged with a vertical member of the rear arch 2 and maintained in its adjustment thereon in an obvious manner through the medium of the collars 28.

At predetermined intervals longitudinally thereof, the frame F is provided with the vertically disposed shafts 29, to each of which is suitably affixed, as indicated at 30,

a tubular drum or cylinder 31.

Projecting radiallyfrom the cylinder 31 are the vertical series of tubular bearings 32 disposed in predetermined proximity one so necessitate. Rotatably supported by each of the bearings 32 is a picker stem 33 capable of axial rotation and having aflattened portion 34 projecting forwardly of the bearing 32 a predetermlne'd distance and terminating in the reversely directed teeth or extensions 35. The teeth or extensions 35 are adapted to engage the cotton when in the boll and the within the boll.

rotary movement of the picker stem results in such. twistv being imparted to the cotton as to withdraw or extract the same from and the gears 36 of each seriesare in mesh so that, the same may be caused to rotate in unison from a common'source of power.

'In the presentembodiment of my invention, the gear 36 of the uppermost picker stem 33 of each series is in mesh with the stationaryannular rack member 37,-herein set forth asv operatively supported by the upper bar 38 of the frame F and positionedwithin the cylinder 31 whereby the rotation of the cylinder 31 results in the desired axial rotation being imparted to the picker stems 33. Each of the shafts 29 extends {lbOXQ the upper bar 38 0f the frame F and is in operative engagement, as indicated at 39, with the shaft 40 disposed longitudinally of'the bar 38 and in chain connection, as indicated at 41, with the stub shaft 42, said shaft 42 being in operative engagement, as at 43, with the vertical shaft 44. The lower extremity of the shaft 44 is operatively engaged, as at 45, with the wheel 4 whereby it will be readily perceived that upon axial rotation being imparted to the wheel 4, the shaft 40 and its coacting members will be 1 caused to rotate.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the chain 41 is directed around .a sprocket 46 loosely mounted upon the shaft 40 and in close proximity to' a clutch meme gagement under the influence of the expan sible members 50, as is believed to be clearly shown in detail Fig. 8. The inner extremi' ties of the latch members 48 are angularly disposed, as indicated M61, and when such latch members 48 are in operative engage ment with the sprocket 46, are disposed within the recesses 52. It will be readily understoodthat when the latch members 48 are withdrawn from engagement with the sprocket 46, it is only necessary to sufficiently rotate said latches to cause the angular extremities 51 to overlie the adjacent end face of the clutch member 47 to maintain said latches out of engagement with the sprocket 46 whereupon said sprocket will run idle.

Mounted for sliding movement-uponeach of the bearings 32 is a cylinder 53, the outer end of which being open and provided with the diametrically opposed fiat springs 54 bearing against opposed faces of the flat portion 34 of the picker stem 33. The inner or closed end of the cylinder 53 is adapted to be engaged by the fork 55 projecting laterally from the vertically disposed shaft 56 rotatably supported bythe frame F and havlng its upper-extremity terminating in the angular extension 57. As the cylinder 31 rotates, the extension 57 will come into contact with the trip 58 carried by the upper bar 38 of the frame F with the result that the cylinder 53 will be forced outwardly so that the members 54 will strip the picker stem 33 of the cotton carried thereby. It is to be understood that the springs or membore 54 possess sufficient resiliency as to offer no obstruction to the rotation of the picker stems 33. After the extension 57 has passed jacent its outer extremity. -Upon being re-' the trip 58,. the cylinder 53 is moved in wardly to its normal position under the in-- fluence of the expansible member 59, here-- in disclosed as a conventional coil spring, surrounding the bearing 32 and interposed between the inner end of the cylinder 53 and a projection 60 carried by thebearing 32 adleased from the picker stem 33, the cotton falls upon the endless apron 61 operatively extremities of the upper shafts 65 are provided with the sprockets67 around which are disposed the chains 68 operatively engaged with the shafts 40. The opposite extremities of the lower shaft 65 are also provided with the sprockets'69 around which are disposed the chains 70 also operatively engaged with the shafts 40. The opposite extremities of the lower shaft 65 are also operatively engaged, as indicated at'71, with one of the shafts 62.

While any draft mechanism may be employed in connection with my improved device as herein disclosed, I prefer to employ the arrangement disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein the sleeve 5 has projectlng forwardly therefrom'at substantially its longitudinal center the arm 72 to the outer extremity of which is pivotally engaged the central portion of the transversely disposed arm 73. Depending from the op- 'posite extremities of the arm 73 and in pivotal engagement therewith are the beams 74, i

the lower extremities of which being pivotally engaged with the arms 7 5"projecting forwardly from the lower extremities of the vertical members of the forward arch 1 and I pivotally engaged therewith, as indicated at g 76, for movement about a vertical axis. It is to be observed that the arms 17 and 73 are telescopically engaged with sleeves, similar to the arrangement of the arch member 1 in the sleeve 5. The beams 74 are provided with the longitudinally disposed spaced openings 76 to afford means whereby a conventional draft rigging77 may be coupled thereto. It is thought to be clearly apparent that the draft mechanism as herein disclosed eifec tively serves as an evener.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a cotton picker constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure f-rom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be-understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in, carrying out my invention in practice. I claim: 1. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, 'a rotatable picker stem carried thereby, a cylinder surrounding the picker stem and mounted for movement 1011- gitudinally thereof, the outer end of said cylinder being open and provided with flat springs bearing against the picker stem, spring means within the cylinder for normally maintaining the cylinder in a position inwardly of the picker stem, and trip controlled means engageable with the inner end of the cylinder for imparting outward move ment to the cylinder.

2. A machine of the character described including a rotatable member, a bearing ra-' diating from said member, a picker stem rotatably' supported by said bearing and projecting therebeyond, a cylinder slidably mounted upon the bearing and provided with outwardly disposed flat springs engageable with the picker stem, a trip oper-. ated shaft carried by the rotatable member engageable with the cylinder for imparting outward movement thereto, and an expansible niember coacting with the bearing and the cylinder for imparting movement to the cylinder in an opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER EDVARD PEHL. lVitnesses:

CHARLES F. MOORE, O. T. JAoKsoN. 

